Microsoft has signed off on the final version (the RTM) of Windows 8.1 Update 1. According to one of our internal sources, the new version of Windows 8 is on schedule to be released on April 8, just after Microsoft’s Build conference. You will probably be glad to hear that most of the changes in Windows 8.1 Update 1 are focused on making the OS usable for mouse-and-keyboard users. Basically, this is Microsoft’s rather desperate extension of an olive branch to those who still haven’t upgraded from XP or Windows 7 — the originally touch-centric approach of Windows 8 obviously wasn’t the critical success that Microsoft needed, and so now the company is scrambling to pick up those beleaguered desktop PC users before it’s too late.

Leaked screenshots from the RTM build of Windows 8.1 Update 1 yet again come from Wzor (Russian). According to Wzor, the full build string is 9600.17031.WINBLUE_GDR.140221-1952, and it was compiled on February 21. The screenshots don’t appear to confirm any new details, other than details of the Update’s installer (it’s around 800MB, and it’s being called a “Feature Pack” rather than a Service Pack). It’s still unknown what name the Update will actually be released under — it might be Update 1, or it might be Spring Update.

Feature-wise, Windows 8.1 Update 1 is focused mostly on improving usability for mouse-and-keyboard users. Metro apps now exist on the Desktop taskbar, Metro apps now have the standard Windows-style title bar at the top (allowing you to easily close/minimize), and non-touch devices will now have the Power (shutdown, restart, suspend) menu available from the new Start Screen (pictured top). For both touch and non-touch devices, there will also be a new Search button available on the Start Screen (it’s the same as the Search button on the Charms bar, as far as we know). For better or worse, you can now also right click a Start Screen title to interact with it.

While it isn’t 100% confirmed, we believe that Windows 8.1 Update 1 will boot straight to the desktop for non-touch users. Some early builds also altered the file associations for non-touch users, so that your laptop/desktop PC doesn’t randomly flip into Metro mode when you open a photo or audio file.

Finally, Windows 8.1 Update 1 will also see a reduction in the system requirements. Update 1 will require just 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage — yes, very similar requirements to Windows Phone 8 — with the hope of encouraging the production of cheaper Windows tablets. Combine this with the recent news that Microsoft is also looking at giving away Windows 8.1 for free, and it would seem that the company is all-in on growing its anemic market share, by hook or by crook.

Not the best machine (by modern day standards), but it’s still a beast. I’ll build a new machine when the motherboard inevitably explodes, but when that happens, I’ll go ahead and hold onto my PSU, my GPU, and my operating system (my 8/8.1 is a retail license, Ubuntu’s free).

Dan

Congrats! I also like to post that I have Win8 on linux articles :)

Ray C

Windows 8.x was never really a problem on keyboard/mouse before. I’m on a non-touch laptop right now. But it’s good this update is coming out. I like the power button and context-menu additions. It really wasn’t as hard to to use as people were making it out to be, but it’s good that some of the obviously bias out here, are at least reporting it as an update for makes keyboard/mouse easier

Gerry Allen

Agreed. Windows 8 has been unfairly maligned. But, change is hard. I used Windows 3.1 and everything since — Windows 8 blows all the others away. Looking forward to articles about how to restore the start screen back to the Metro interface.

jerwald

yeah yeah yeah change and love and peace and all that…

shove it.

AdamRadzik22

This is good news IMO. It’s not that Windows 8 had bad code under the hood, but it was all the UI and other tweaks MS decided to try and implement. If they go back on some of this, then it will result in a better product.

Charles Walker

Agreed. Fingers crossed that Windows 9 takes the best from Windows 7 and Windows 8. From there, it would be nice to have Aero back!

Stocklone

I have no idea what your reason for wanting Aero back is so I’m not going to assume I know for you personally.

I’m not sure why people, in general, want Aero back. It’s eating up extra GPU cycles for transparency/gradient/shading that no one actually needs. I absolutely love the new flat look of the desktop. It looks great and is far more resource efficient. I also think it is far easier to pick out your current active window. It pops way more than it did with Aero.

Is there something else I’m missing here?

Charles Walker

People want Aero back because it looks cool and any modern computer will not be phased by it. It doesn’t interfere with gaming either because it’s automatically turned off.

Many people believe Windows 8 is ugly and others welcome the change. Neither is right or wrong, but calling it resource intensive is a little dramatic. I heard that Windows 9 is supposed to bring Aero back, but not in the way we know it today. Regardless, I have a lot of faith that Windows 9 will be a promising OS.

ephemeris

Need to bench the different flavors of windows. Usability,interoperability,compatability ,.. file system ,usability etc. . Everything I’ve seen has been touchy feely, eye candy glances etc. . I need the xp compatability. Read some about the ‘Voice Control’ mechanisms,and Voice to Text. . Read also that the newer Windows uses a ‘very large amount of memory on the Video card. Think I want 7 so I can use Aero. But who’s looking . Whats the idea of ‘Cloning a Desktop ?

James Tolson

nah, still sticking to windows xp, til the end of time :-)

Eric Bryner

XP is so bloated looking. Did not like the way it looked at all. Fugly 3 colors it provided. I had more BSOD with XP. It took them years to get it right, and when it was great, it was the time windows 7 was released.

Darien Hawkins

All of this could have been addressed by MSFT back during the initial builds of Windows 8. All MSFT had to do was listen to the feedback building in the “Building Windows 8” blog and the TechNet Forums. Had MSFT listened to all of the great advice and suggestions posted (and there was just as many “stupid” suggestions also), Windows 8 could have been larger and better received than Windows 7.

http://www.kristiambrose.com/ kristiambrose

The question I want to know, and no one seems to be able to answer me: IS Windows 8.1 MANDATORY? When I bought my HP I loved it and Windows 8. But, when I upgraded to 8.1 because of not being able to run certain programs I ran into a slew of issues that just made my computer total $hit. I had freezing issues, mouse track issues, my explorer bar would free, clock would freeze, etc. I sent it in to HP to get it fixed and was downgraded back to 8.0. But, this morning, lucky me, I got a notification that 8.1 was ready for me *YAY*. Do I have to install it? I thought at first glance yes, it was mandatory, considering I could not use certain Microsoft Programs. But, is there a way around installing 8.1? Is this the same crappy 8.1 I installed 3 months ago, no. What’s the difference? Can anyone guarantee I won’t run into my issues again? ie; HAVE they fixed the problems I was having lol. I’d hate to download it again and have to return my laptop to HP again.

Eric Bryner

Funny, how someone says they had all these issues, and the issues they had are not produced by others. Sounds like HP thing. I got Toshiba, and I am running retail copy of Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center, with no hickups or anything of what you mentioned. Never scene a BSOD, since even using Windows 8 to what I got now. Only BSOD is with all older versions of Windows before Windows 8. Yes, that means Windows 7 had them. Few of them, but still had them.

Jack Hsiung

you do not have to update to 8.1 if it is giving you problems… i have worked on a variety of windows 8 / 8.1 machines.. i don’t really see any difference between them..

Jack Hsiung

Never had problem with mouse and keyboard on all of my windows 8 machines… we have 1/2 of my company converted to windows 8 as well.. not a single problem .. everything work as before and the big icon / new start up screen is highly appreciated…

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